Apparatus, and associated method, for facilitating synchronization of databases connected by way of a radio air interface

ABSTRACT

Apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating synchronization of databases connected by way of a radio air interface. Changes to a data record embodied at the network part are detected by a detector. A mapping is performed by a mapper, and a synchronization request is generated by a synchronization request generator. The synchronization request is filtered by a filter, and converted into form to permit its efficient communication upon the radio air interface to a mobile node pursuant to a synchronization session.

The present invention relates generally to a manner by which tofacilitate synchronization of data stored at a network database withcorresponding data stored at a mobile node by way of a radio airinterface of a radio communication system. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to apparatus, and an associated method bywhich to initiate synchronization of a network part of the radiocommunication system upon detection of a change to a data record of thedata stored at the network database.

Upon detection of a change to a data record, a mapping is performed todefine an association between the fields of the data record of thenetwork database with fields of a corresponding data record maintainedat the mobile node. A synchronization request is generated that includesthe mapped information together with the network values of the fields ofthe data record upon which the mapping is performed. The valuescontained in the synchronization request are converted into an encodedformat and selectably communicated to the mobile node pursuant to asynchronization session. The information required pursuant to thesynchronization session is contained in the synchronization request, andthe information is converted into a form to facilitate its communicationupon the radio air interface in an efficient manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Communication systems are regularly utilized in modern society throughwhich to communicate data pursuant to the effectuation of acommunication service. Data communicated pursuant to the effectuation ofthe communication service is originated at a communication source and issent upon a communication channel for delivery to a communicationtarget.

At a minimum, a communication system is formed of a first communicationstation that forms, or is coupled to, the communication source and asecond communication station that is coupled to, or forms, thecommunication target. The communication stations are connected by way ofa communication channel upon which the data is communicated by the firstcommunication station to the second communication station. The firstcommunication station that sends the data is sometimes referred to as asending station. And, the second communication station that receives thedata is sometimes referred to as a receiving station.

A communication-station pair in which each of the communication stationsthereof forms both a sending station and a receiving station permitstwo-way communication services to be effectuated. That is to say, thecommunication stations are each capable of both sending and receivingdata. Telephonic communications and communications in which closed-loopfeedback is utilized are exemplary of communication services thatinclude communication stations capable of both sending and receivingdata.

Successive generations of communication systems have been developed anddeployed to take advantage of technological advancements. Technologicaladvancements, when applied to communication systems, are generallyapplied in manners to increase the data throughput rates at which thedata is communicated, the accuracy by which the data is communicated, orthe manner by which the data can be communicated.

An exemplary type of communication system is a radio communicationsystem. In a radio communication system, the communication channels uponwhich data is communicated are defined upon radio links that extendbetween the communication stations of the radio communication system.Wireline connections, conventionally required in a wirelinecommunication system through which to connect the communicationstations, and upon which communication channels are defined, areobviated. Various advantages are provided to radio communication systemsin which the need for such wireline connections is obviated. In additionto reduced infrastructure costs associated with the installation of aradio communication system, a radio communication system also providesfor communication mobility. That is to say, one, or more, of thecommunication stations between which data is communicated pursuant toeffectuation of a communication service is permitted movement.

Technological advancements related to processing technologies also areapplied to communication systems. Technological advancements thatpertain to processing technologies, when applied to communicationsystems, generally permit increased amounts of data to be processed indecreased amounts of time. Modern data processing techniques permitsignificant amounts of data to be stored and operated upon. Radiocommunication systems, as well as other types of communication systems,are regularly utilized by which to transport the data that is to bestored and operated upon through the use of data processing techniques.

Various types of communication devices have been developed that perform,in addition to performance of communication functions, various dataprocessing operations. Additional communication services and associatedapplications shall likely continue to be developed that requirecommunication devices to implement new data processing and newcommunication technologies.

Personal digital assistants (PDAs) are exemplary of communicationdevices that are available, and regularly utilized by which toeffectuate communication services and to operate upon data. The devicesare typically of relatively small dimensions, i.e., of dimensions thatpermit their hand carriage by a user.

Typically, personal digital assistants contain storage locations forstoring data forming one or more databases. During operation of apersonal digital assistant, the user of the personal digital assistant,or analogous such processing device, selectably retrieves the datastored at the databases maintained thereat. The data that forms thedatabase is usually formatted to form, e.g., data records formed of oneor more data fields. The data fields are populated with data that isstored at the database. Upon selection of particular data records, orfields thereof, by the user, the data is retrieved from the database anddisplayed, or otherwise made available, to the user. Processingoperations, such as sorting operations are also selectably initiated bythe user. Sorting, or other processing, of the data is performable.Also, the user of the device is able further selectably to change, addto, or delete from, the data stored at the database.

To ensure that the data stored at the portable device is notirretrievably lost in the event of malfunction of, or other problemwith, the portable device, the data is copied, i.e., backed up, at aseparate storage device. Once suitably backed up, the back up copy isretrieved, if necessary, to access the data or to re-store the data atthe portable device. Conventional personal digital assistants, forinstance, sometimes provide for the back up of the data maintained atthe databases thereof at a computer workstation or analogous device thatcontains a storage memory depository. Back up operations by which tostore a back up copy of a database maintained at the personal digitalassistant conventionally utilizes a fixed cable to which a wirelineconnection is formed between the portable device and the device thatcontains the storage memory depository. Once the data is stored at thestorage memory depository, the back up copy is available for subsequentaccess thereto, if necessary.

The back up copy of the database is a complete copy of the data storedat the portable device only for so long as the data maintained at therespective devices are not altered. When, as is conventionally the case,asynchronous changes to the database maintained at the portable deviceor at the back up copy causes the data at the respective locations nolonger to be in match with one another. And, therefore, any asynchronouschange to the database or its back up copy results in data contentdissimilarities therebetween.

In order to place the database maintained at the portable device, andits copy, back into match with each other, the database and its back upcopy must be synchronized. Synchronization operations are performed, forinstance, during subsequent back up operations, at timed intervals, orupon detection of a change to a data record at either of the locations.During synchronization operations, data stored at the respectivelocations are compared together. And, responsive to the comparisons,data found to be out-of-match with one another is identified.Appropriate change to the data is then effectuated to place the databack in match with one another.

Some portable devices make use of a radio air interface by which,amongst other things, to back up and synchronize data stored at thedatabases. Data back up operations and data synchronization operationsthat are performed by way of a radio air interface are, however, moreproblematical than operations performed by way of a conventionalwireline connection. Bandwidth limitations, for instance, limit thecommunication capacity that can be made available for the back up andsynchronization operations. And, the use of conventional techniques,predicated upon the use of wireline connections rather than a radio airinterface, as a general rule, are prohibitively bandwidth consumptivewhen applied to a system in which such operations are performed by wayof a radio air interface. Additionally, the information that istransported upon the radio air interface must be carefully selected sothat the information needed to perform the synchronization operation canbe efficiently effectuated.

Any manner by which to provide better for the back up andsynchronization of data by way of a radio air interface would thereforebe advantageous.

It is in light of this background information related to synchronizationof data contents of databases by way of a radio air interface that thesignificant improvements of the present invention have evolved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, accordingly, advantageously provides apparatus,and an associated method, by which to facilitate synchronization of datastored at a network database with corresponding data stored at a mobilenode by way of a radio air interface of a radio communication system.

Through operation of an embodiment of the present invention, a manner isprovided by which to initiate synchronization at a network part of theradio communication system upon detection of the change to a data recordof the data stored at the network database.

The information required pursuant to the synchronization session iscontained in a synchronization request, and the information is convertedinto a form to facilitate its communication upon the radio air interfacein an efficient manner.

In one aspect of the present invention, detection is made at the networkpart of a change to a data record of a network database copy. Responsiveto the detection, a mapping is performed at the network part to definean association between the fields of the data record at which the changeis detected at the network database copy with fields of a correspondingdata record maintained at the mobile node.

Once the mapping is performed, a synchronization request is generated.The synchronization request includes the mapped information formedpursuant to the mapping operations. The synchronization request alsoincludes network values of the fields of the data record upon which themapping is performed.

The values contained in the synchronization request are converted intoan encoded format, suitable for communication upon the radio airinterface pursuant to a synchronization session by which to synchronizethe data contained in the data records of the respective databasecopies. By converting the data contained in the synchronization requestinto a form permitting its efficient communication upon the radio airinterface, the communication resources required to be allocated upon theradio air interface to effectuate a synchronization are minimized.

In another aspect of the present invention, the network database copiesare managed by personal information manager (PIM) connector entities.When, for instance, a Microsoft Exchange™ exchange database copy isembodied at the network part, an Exchange™, personal information managerconnector entity is associated therewith. The Exchange PIM connectorentity operates, amongst other things, to detect to any data record ofthe Exchange database copy with which the PIM connector entity isassociated. When a change is made to any field of a data record of theassociated database, detection is made at the PIM connector entity.Responsive thereto, a mapping is performed at the PIM connector entityto form a map associating the fields of the data record at which thechange is detected and corresponding fields of a corresponding datarecord embodied at the corresponding database at the mobile node.

The personal information manager connector entity also forms asynchronization request and populates the synchronization request withthe map that is formed. The information of the map that is populatedinto the synchronization request includes the identities of the fields,defined at the data record of the network database copy as well as,also, the field identities of the mobile database copy. The values ofthe data fields of the network database copy also populate thesynchronization request generated by the personal information managerconnector entity.

The synchronization request generated by the personal informationmanager connector entity is delivered to a synchronization server. Thesynchronization server, responsive to the delivery thereto of therequest, converts the values of the fields of the data record containedin the request out of a first, e.g., XML (Extensible Mark-up Language)and into a second form that facilitates communication pursuant to asynchronization session. Namely, the format is converted into atag-length format, free of null terminators.

Determinations are made as to what fields of the data record containedin the synchronization request are of changed values. Fields, other thanthe fields that exhibit changed information, need not be communicatedpursuant to a synchronization session and, hence, need not be convertedinto the tag length format.

The synchronization request is generated upon detection of change to anydata field of any data record of the database. The synchronizationrequest contains all information necessary to perform a synchronizationwith a corresponding data record of a database of a mobile node. Theinformation is converted into non-redundant form to place the data inform for efficient communication upon a radio air interface extending tothe mobile node.

In these and other aspects, therefore, apparatus, and an associatedmethod, is provided for a radio communication system having a networkpart at which a network copy database is maintained and a mobile node atwhich a mobile copy database is maintained. Synchronization of datastored at the network copy database with data stored at the mobile copydatabase is facilitated. A mapper is embodied at the network part. Themapper selectably operates to form a map between fields of a data recordof a network copy database and fields of the mobile copy database. Thenetwork copy database has a network schema, and the mobile copy databasehas a mobile schema. The map indexes together the fields of the datarecord of the network copy database with the fields of the correspondingdata record of the mobile copy database. The mapper forms the map upondetection of change to the data record of the network copy database.

A more complete appreciation of the present invention and the scopethereof can be obtained from the accompanying drawings that are brieflysummarized below, the following detailed description of thepresently-preferred embodiments of the invention, and the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a functional block diagram of a communication systemin which an embodiment of the present invention is operable.

FIG. 2 illustrates a representation of an exemplary default mappingscheme performed during operation of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a representation, similar to that shown in FIG. 2,but here showing an XML (Extensible Mark-up Language) Synchronizationrequest, also generated during exemplary operation of an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a representation, similar to those in FIGS. 2-3, buthere representative of the exemplary synchronization request shown inFIG. 3 subsequent to device normalization and filtering performedthereupon.

FIG. 5 illustrates a representation, similar to those shown in FIGS.2-4, but here representative of an exemplary tag length encoded messageformed pursuant to exemplary operation of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a representation, similar to those shown in FIGS.2-5, but here representative of a tag length encoded synchronizationrequest that is sent upon a radio air interface during exemplaryoperation of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart representative of the method ofoperation of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIG. 1, a radio communication system is showngenerally at 10. The communication system provides for radiocommunications with a mobile node, of which a representative mobile node12 is shown in the Figure. During operation, communications areeffectuated between a fixed network part of the communication system andthe mobile node by way of a radio air interface.

Through the communication of data between the mobile node and thenetwork part of the communication system, a communication service iseffectuable. Two-way communication of data is performed pursuant tovarious of such communication services. An up-link channel is definedupon a radio up-link of the radio air interface, and data sourced at themobile node is communicated thereon for delivery to the network part ofthe communication system. Analogously, a down-link channel is definedupon a radio down-link of the radio air interface. The arrows 14 and 16are representative of the up-link and the down-link, respectively, ofthe radio air interface.

The network part of the communication system includes fixed-siteequipment. A base transceiver station 16 transceives data with themobile node. A coverage area, sometimes referred to as a cell, isdefined by the base transceiver station. The base transceiver stationgenerally is able to detect data communicated by the mobile node whenthe mobile node is positioned within the area encompassed by the cell.And, the mobile node, generally, is able to detect data communicated bythe base transceiver station upon the down-link channel thereto.

While not separately shown, the network part of the communication systemincludes a plurality of base transceiver stations defining partiallyoverlapping coverage areas. The mobility permitted of the mobile nodepermits that mobile node to be positioned, at successive times, atdifferent ones of the cells, defined by different ones of the basetransceiver stations. Thereby, effectuation of a communication servicecan continue uninterrupted as the mobile node travels throughoutsuccessive ones of the cells defined in the communication system.

The base transceiver station is coupled to a relay device 18 that alsoforms a portion of the network part of the communication system, and therelay device is coupled to a connectivity server. The BES, in turn, iscoupled to a synchronization (SYNC) server 24. The synchronizationserver and the relay device are functionally represented as separatefunctional entities. The functions performed by the separate functionalentities are, in one implementation, carried out by a single physicalentity, i.e., upon a common device or platform.

An administration (Admin) server 26 is coupled to the synchronizationserver and also forms a portion of the network part of the communicationsystem. The administration server provides administrative servicesduring operation of the communication system. Administrative control,for instance, over operation of the synchronization server is providedthrough operation of the administration server.

Network based databases are functionally coupled to, or embodied at, thesynchronization server. The three databases are exemplary. Othernumbers, and other types, of databases can also be embodied at, orcoupled to, the synchronization server. A first database 28, a Lotus™Notes database, is embodied at the network part of the communicationsystem. Similarly, a second database 32, an Exchange™ database is alsoembodied at the network part of the communication system. And, a thirddatabase 34, is also embodied at the network part of the communicationsystem. The third database here forms a third party database. Thedatabases are maintained, here, at a database server 46.

Each of the databases 28, 32, and 34 are formed of a plurality of datarecords. And, each of the data records of the respective databases isformed of one or more data fields. Selected ones of the data fields ofthe data records form key fields. The data fields of the data recordsare selectably populated with values that together define the values ofthe databases.

Corresponding databases, that is, databases that correspond with thedatabases embodied at the network part of the communication system arealso embodied at the mobile node. Here, a first database 38 is embodiedat the mobile node that is associated with the database 28. The database38 forms a Lotus Notes™ database, and the databases 28 and 38 are copiesof one another. A second database 42, here an Exchange™ database isassociated with the database 32. The databases 32 and 42 are copies ofone another. And, the mobile node includes a third database 44. Thedatabase 44 is a third party database that corresponds with the database34. The databases 34 and 44 are copies of one another.

During operation of the communication system, any of the databases, thedatabases embodied at the mobile node as well as the databases embodiedat the network part, are asynchronously updateable. When a database isasynchronously updated, the other database associated therewith nolonger remains a true copy of the database that has been asynchronouslyupdated. Updating of a database includes any change to any data field ofany data record thereof.

Subsequent to an asynchronous change to a database, the database pairsare placed back in match with one another through operation of asynchronization procedure or process. In a synchronization process,performed during a synchronization session, values of data stored in therespective databases of a database pair are compared. If the comparisonsindicate that the data of the respective databases are out of match withone another, the data at one, or the other, of the databases is altered,thereby to bring the databases back in match with one another.

The portions of the up-link and down-link that are available forallocation for use pursuant to a synchronization session is limited.When the communication resources of the radio air interface areallocated to perform a synchronization procedure, the allocatedbandwidth on the radio air interface is unavailable for use toeffectuate other types of communication services. Operation of anembodiment of an embodiment of the present invention facilitatesminimization of the bandwidth requirements needed of the radio airinterface to perform a synchronization session while also promptlyinitiating a synchronization session at the network part when changesmade to a data record of a database embodied thereat.

The databases 28, 32, and 34 are, in the exemplary implementation,embodied at a database server 46. And, the database server is coupled tothe synchronization server by way of personal information manager (PIM)connectors, here corresponding in number with the separate databasesembodied at the database server. Here, therefore, an Exchange™ connector48, a Notes™ connector 52, and a third party connector 54 are separatelyshown. The connectors 48-54 form interfaces between the server 46 atwhich the databases are embodied and the synchronization server.

The network part includes apparatus 60 of an embodiment of the presentinvention. The apparatus 60 is formed of functional entities that areimplemented in any desired manner, such as by algorithms executable byprocessing circuitry. In the exemplary implementation, the entities ofthe apparatus are distributed across the personal information managementconnectors and the synchronization server. In other implementations, theapparatus is embodied at a single physical device or is locatedelsewhere.

The apparatus 60 of the exemplary implementation includes portionsembodied at a personal information manager connector, and a portionembodied at the synchronization server. The elements of the apparatus 60are embodied at one or all of the PIM connectors, such as at theExchange PIM connector 48. The functional entities shown to be embodiedat the connector 48 are also formed at the other connectors, here theconnectors 52 and 54.

The apparatus includes a detector 62 that operates to detect a change toany field of a data record forming part of an associated database. Thedetector 62, e.g., embodied at the Exchange connector 48 detects changesto any field of any data record of the Exchange database 28.

Upon detection by the detector of a change to the database, the detectorforms an indication of the change, and the indication is provided to amapper 64. The mapper is also, e.g., embodied at the connector. Themapper operates to map the fields of the data record of the database 28with corresponding fields of the database 38 embodied at the mobilenode. And, indications of the map, once formed, are provided to asynchronization request generator 68. The synchronization requestgenerator operates to generate a synchronization request responsive tothe application of the map information thereto. The synchronizationrequest generator is, in the exemplary implementation, embodied at theconnector. The synchronization request generator generates asynchronization request that is provided to the synchronization server.

The synchronization server includes a filter 72 that filters informationcontained in the synchronization request. Amongst the information thatis filtered out of the synchronization request is information of a fieldof the data record embodied at the network database fails to have acorresponding field at the database of the mobile node. Once the requestis filtered by the filter, the filtered request is provided to aconverter 74. A converter is also embodied at the synchronization serverin the exemplary implementation. The converter operates to convert thefiltered synchronization request provided thereto and to place theinformation contained in the synchronization request into efficient formfor its subsequent communication upon the radio air interface to themobile node pursuant to a synchronization session.

Thereby, because a change to a data record of the database isimmediately detected, a synchronization session can correspondingly bespeedily commenced. And, because the information is converted into aform to permit its communication in an efficient manner upon the radioair interface, the radio resources required of the radio air interfaceto effectuate the synchronization session is minimal.

FIG. 2 illustrates a map, shown generally at 82, formed by the mapper 64pursuant to its operation responsive to detection by the detector of achange to a data record of the database. The map 82 contains fields thatmap between the fields of the database 32 and its counterpart 42. In theexemplary representation shown in the Figure, the Exchange connector 48supplies default mapping for synchronizing Lotus Notes™ contacts withthe address book of the mobile node.

The XML tags, e.g., {First Name}, refer to fields used by the Exchange™connector 48 and the map attributes, e.g., “Fname” that refer to thefields of the mobile node. In this representation, {First Name} tag mapsto {Fname} on the mobile node. If the attribute is null, no mappingtakes place between the database and the mobile node. The tags {DataSource} identify the data source of the connector and {target}identifies a common database between the data source and the mobilenode. The display attribute is a displayable field should field mappingsbe configurable.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary XML sync request 84 when an asynchronouschange between the databases is detected. The {Cmd ID} tag is amonotonically increasing numeric value that identifies a particularrecord operation within a synchronization request. The {GUID} tag refersto a record entry identification in Exchange™. The {GUID} is used to mapa record on Exchange to a corresponding record at the mobile node usingthe UID of the mobile node.

The synchronization request, once generated, is provided to thesynchronization server. The server identifies the data source as“Exchange” and uses the accompanying XML field mapping, of which themapping 82 is exemplary. Using this, or other analogous, field mapping,the synchronization server generates an XFL style sheet and appliesfield transformations to each record in the XML synchronization request.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary result, shown generally at 86. Eachrecord is in ‘Device’ normalized and any fields that are not mapped arefiltered out by the filter 72. Information regarding data sources,databases, and record operations become synchronization commands forprotocols used over the radio air interface, i.e., OTA protocols.

The synchronization server then uses the device connector to convert thenormalized XML record to a tag length (TL) encoding. FIG. 5 illustratesa representation of the record, once TL encoded and is shown in theFigure generally at 90. The conversion uses an XML device mappingdocument to convert XML tags, such as {FName} to integer valueequivalents, such as indicated in the Figure.

The integer value represented by the ‘Map’ attribute identifies aparticular field within the address book record of the mobile node.Here, the {Fname} tag maps to an integer value of ‘32’. After the recordis converted to TL encoding, the synchronization server furtheroptimizes the record by checking field deltas from a previoussynchronization session. Fields that have not changed are filtered outof the record, thereby further to reduce OTA traffic. Additionally, forevery record that is successfully synchronized, the synchronizationserver stores a two-byte hash value for each of the fields.

Once the record has been filtered, the synchronization server builds aseries of tag-length sync commands formed of data source, database, andrecord operations for each record. These synchronization commands makeupon the complete synchronization package that is transmitted to themobile node using a session oriented protocol.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary tag length encoded synchronizationrequest, shown generally at 94, that is sent upon a downlink channel tothe mobile node.

In the exemplary operation represented in these examples, thesynchronization server detects two field changes, company and phone,from a previous synchronization session. All of the records that areinvolved in the synchronization process are stored in a pending databaseuntil a response is returned from the mobile node. Records that aresuccessfully synchronized are removed from the pending database and arecord history is then stored in the synchronization state database.Once delivered to the mobile node, the encoded packet is parsed, mergedwith existing record fields, and then converted to an address bookobject, whereat the record is updated in the address book database ofthe mobile node. A response is returned to the synchronization serverthat indicates the status of the packet and any error conditionsresulting from the synchronization command.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method flow diagram, shown generally at 102,representative of the method of operation of an embodiment of thepresent invention. The method facilitates synchronization of data storedat a network copy database with data stored at a mobile copy database.

First, and as indicated by the block 106, a change to a data record ofthe network copy database is detected. Then, and as indicated by theblock 108, a map is formed between the fields of the data record of thenetwork copy database and fields of a corresponding data record of themobile copy database. The mobile copy database has a mobile copy schema.The map indexes together the fields of the data record of the networkcopy database with the fields of the corresponding data record of themobile copy database.

Through operation of the method of an embodiment of the presentinvention, a synchronization session is implementable upon detection ofa change to a data record embodied at the network part of thecommunication system. Minimal communication resources upon the radio airinterface are required to perform the synchronization session.

The previous descriptions are of preferred examples for implementing theinvention, and the scope of the invention should not necessarily belimited by this description.

1. Apparatus for a radio communication system comprised of a networkpart at which a network-copy database is maintained, a plurality of basetransceiver stations (BTSs) coupled to the network part, each BTS of theplurality of BTSs defining a corresponding communication coverage areacell, within which at least one BTS provides data communications serviceto mobile nodes located therein and, a mobile node capable of beingpositioned in different cells at successive times and at which amobile-copy database is maintained, said apparatus being located at thenetwork part and facilitating synchronization of data stored at thenetwork-copy database that changes relative to data stored in themobile-copy database, the synchronization of data occurring through arelay device that couples the network part to a base transceiverstation, the coverage area of which the mobile node is operating, saidapparatus being located at the network part of the communication systemand communicating with a plurality of base transceiver stations and aplurality of mobile nodes through said relay and comprising: a mapper,selectably operable to form a map between fields of a data record of anetwork-copy database, the network-copy database having a network-copyschema and, fields of a corresponding data record of the mobile-copydatabase, the mobile-copy database having a mobile schema, themobile-copy database schema being different than the network-copydatabase schema, the map indexing together the fields of the data recordof the network-database with the fields of the corresponding data recordof the mobile-copy database, said mapper forming the map upon detectionof change to the data record of the network-copy database; asynchronization request generator that receives the map, generates asynchronization request from the map, and which provides thesynchronization request to a synchronization server, the synchronizationserver including a filter that filters out of a synchronization requestto a mobile node, a request to update data for a field of a data recordin the mobile-copy database for which a corresponding field of acorresponding data record does not also exist in the network-copydatabase; wherein the synchronization server generates a synchronizationrequest to be sent to a mobile node through a BTS in whose coverage areain which the mobile node is operating, the synchronization requestincluding data for a record in the network-copy database that is to becopied into a record to be updated in the mobile node, the mobile noderecord to be updated being identified within the synchronization requestby an integer generated from the map and identifying to both the mobilenode and to the network part, the mobile node record to be updated, andwherein the mobile-copy database and the network-copy database arecapable of being synchronized uninterruptedly as the mobile node travelsthrough successive ones of communication coverage area cells.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1 further comprising a detector embodied at thenetwork part, coupled to the network-part database, and to said mapper,said detector for detecting the change to the data record of thenetwork-copy database and for providing an indication of the change tosaid mapper.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the synchronizationrequest generator is embodied at the network part and coupled to saidmapper and to said synchronization server, said synchronization requestgenerator generating a network-initiated synchronization requestresponsive to formation of the map by said mapper.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 3 wherein the synchronization request formed by saidsynchronization request generator comprises indicia associated with themap generated by said mapper.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein thesynchronization request formed by said synchronization request generatorfurther comprises indicia associated with the data record of whichchange thereto is detected
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein theindicia associated with the data record and of which the synchronizationrequest is further comprised comprises values of the data record.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 6 wherein the data record is formed of a first fieldand at least a second field and wherein the values of the data recordcomprised in the synchronization request formed by said synchronizationrequest generator comprises values populating at least one of the firstand at least second fields, respectively.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7wherein the values of the data record comprised in the synchronizationrequest comprise values populating each of the first and at least secondfields.
 9. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the fields of the datarecord of the network-copy database and mapped by said mapper are of afirst number, wherein the fields of the corresponding data record of themobile-copy database, the first number dissimilar with the secondnumber.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a converterembodied at the network part and coupled to said filter to receive thenormalized mapped values formed thereat, said converter for convertingthe normalized mapped values into a radio air format, for communicationto the mobile node pursuant to the synchronization of the data.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 10 wherein the radio air format into which saidconverter converts the normalized mapped values comprises a tag-lengthformat.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said filter further filtersmap portions in which a field of the data record of the network copydatabase is absent a change.
 13. A method of communicating in a radiocommunication system comprised of: a network part at which anetwork-copy database having a network schema is maintained, a pluralityof base transceiver stations (BTSs) coupled to the network part, eachBTS of the plurality of BTSs defining a corresponding communicationcoverage area cell, within which at least one BTS provides datacommunications service to mobile nodes located therein and, a mobilenode capable of being positioned in different cells at successive timesand at which a mobile copy database having a mobile copy schema, ismaintained, said network-copy database being located at the networkpart, said network-copy database and said mobile copy schema beingdifferent from each other, said method for facilitating synchronizationof data stored at the network copy database with data stored at themobile copy database, the synchronization of data occurring through arelay device that couples the network part of the communication systemto a base transceiver station, the coverage area of which the mobilenode is operating, said method comprising at the network part: detectinga change to a data record of the network copy database; forming a mapbetween fields of the data record of the network copy database havingthe network schema and fields of a corresponding data record of themobile copy database, the mobile copy database having the mobile copyschema, the map indexing together the fields of the data record of thenetwork copy database with the fields of the corresponding data recordof the mobile copy database; generating a synchronization request thatis responsive to the map, the synchronization request identifying a datarecord in a mobile node to be updated and including the content of therecord in the network-copy database to be copied into the mobile copydatabase; filtering the synchronization request so that it does notattempt to update a data record in the mobile-node copy of the databasethat does not also exist in the network-copy database; formatting thesynchronization request to identify a record to be updated in the mobilenode by including an integer generated from the map, the integeridentifying to both a mobile node and to a network part, a record to beupdated in a mobile node; and sending the synchronization request to amobile node through a BTS in whose coverage area if which the mobilenode is operating and wherein the mobile-copy database and thenetwork-copy database is capable of being synchronized uninterruptedlyas the mobile node travels through successive ones of communicationcoverage area cells.
 14. The method of claim 13 further comprising theoperation of generating a synchronization request at the network part,responsive to formation of the map formed during said operation offorming.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the synchronization requestgenerated during said operation of generating comprises indiciaassociated with the map formed during said operation of forming.
 16. Themethod of claim 14 further comprising the operation of filtering, fromthe synchronization request, selected map portions thereof to formnormalized mapped values.
 17. The method of claim 16 further comprisingthe operation of converting the normalized mapped values into a radioair format.
 18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the operationof sending selected normalized mapped values, once converted into theradio air format, to the mobile node pursuant to the synchronizationtherewith.